Google’s Gboard for Android has once again raised the bar with its innovative “Scan Text” feature. As this cutting-edge optical character recognition (OCR) tool begins to roll out, Android users are in for a treat with a seamless and efficient way to extract text from the physical world into the digital realm. Gboard rolling out ‘Scan Text’ OCR tool is good news for the users.
The introduction of the Scan Text feature within the Gboard capabilities marks a significant milestone in enhancing the functionality and versatility of Android devices. By simply dragging the Scan Text tool to the toolbar for quick access, users are empowered with a powerful OCR tool at their fingertips. Granting Gboard the camera permission unlocks a whole new dimension of possibilities, as users are greeted with a viewfinder that occupies over half the screen, ready to capture text in an instant.
Upon tapping the button to “Take a photo of words to scan,” Gboard springs into action, swiftly identifying and highlighting all text within the camera’s view. The intuitive interface allows users to effortlessly tap and drag to select the desired text, with a convenient preview displaying the extracted text and a prominent “Insert” button for seamless integration into their digital workspace. Remarkably, the tool remains open even after the text is inserted, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted workflow should users wish to select additional text. To further enhance user experience, a back arrow option in the top-left corner enables users to capture another picture, while a convenient close button swiftly transitions users back to the full keyboard interface.
Comparing Gboard’s Scan Text feature to existing OCR tools like Google Lens, it becomes evident that Gboard offers a compelling blend of speed, convenience, and accuracy. For many users, the simplicity and efficiency of the Scan Text tool may prove to be a faster and more user-friendly alternative to traditional OCR tools.
Moreover, the parity in OCR accuracy between Gboard and established OCR solutions underscores the reliability and robustness of this new feature. While the current functionality is impressive, the potential addition of a “select all” option could further streamline the text extraction process, enhancing the overall user experience.